Dad of two shot after intruders responded to his online ad
Good Morning Angels assisted Desmond Sibiya in fighting back after he was shot by intruders who responded to an ad he posted online.
Desmond Sibiya from Randburg is the breadwinner of his young family. He recently lost his job and knew he had to make a plan quickly to keep his family afloat while searching for new employment.
This is his nature—he always cares for others through his church and sport. He knows his wife, Selmone, and their two young children, Hope and Haydn, depend on him.
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Desmond decided to advertise their home as a rental property on Facebook Marketplace to relieve the financial burden. Two men responded and came for a viewing—but then they attacked Desmond, tying him up while searching for valuables.
The attackers then decided to shoot him, as he had seen their faces. Despite being shot in the abdomen at close range, Desmond managed to fight back. In the process, he broke a window and cried for help.
Desmond's neighbours found him and rushed him to the nearest private hospital, where emergency surgery was performed. The doctors saved his life, but further surgery is needed, as the bullet has not yet been removed.
Desmond had to cancel his medical aid after losing his job. His medical team advised against transferring him to a state hospital, as he is still too weak. That's why his wife, Selmone, created a fundraising account—to raise the R200,000 needed for his treatment.
His friend Diane also reached out to Good Morning Angels, as they've raised only R30,000 so far—and time is running out.
REQUEST FOR: Desmond Sibiya
REQUEST FROM: Modesta Diane Phillips
ANGEL 1: The Good Morning Angels Fund NPC
SPONSORING: The Good Morning Angels listener fund will assist Desmond with R100,000 towards his life-saving medical treatment after being shot in the stomach by intruders.
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ANGEL 2: Our friends at Ecomed Medical
SPONSORING: Our friends at Ecomed Medical were listening, and they will donate the remaining R70,000 needed for Desmond to receive his life-saving medical treatment.
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Good Morning Angels,
I trust you are well.
My name is Modesta Diane Phillips, and I am writing to seek assistance on behalf of a childhood friend of mine.
Just a brief synopsis:
His name is Desmond Sibiya—a father, husband, son, brother, and friend to many. He is an incredible human being and an upstanding member of society who was subjected to a traumatic home invasion on the morning of Friday, 4 April 2025, at approximately 11 a.m., which resulted in him sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Some background and context:
Desmond has been facing financial difficulties and opted to put his house up for rent on Facebook Marketplace. Two men posing as potential tenants entered his home under false pretences. During the viewing process, he was shot in his main bedroom while showing them around. They tied his arms and legs with cable ties and continued searching for valuables while trying to access his banking app.
When they were done, they discussed how to dispose of him, agreeing to shoot him since he had seen their faces. They began removing blankets from the beds to muffle the gunshot. At that moment, Desmond realised he had to act. He managed to pull himself upright, free his left hand from the cable tie, and press the panic button—which, unfortunately, didn’t work.
They caught him trying to escape, and a struggle ensued. Desmond fought off one of the robbers, who had a knife. The other returned with a gun and shot him at close range. Somehow, Desmond managed to grab the gun, turn it on them, and try to defend himself, but the bullet jammed. He used the gun to hit one of the attackers in the face repeatedly. The other shoved him against a window, which he managed to break, and he shouted for help. Soon after, he collapsed from exhaustion and injury.
The intruders fled, and nearby neighbours came to his aid and rushed him to the hospital.
Current situation:
He is currently admitted at Netcare’s Olivedale Clinic, where he has been treated since last Friday. He lost his medical aid when he lost his job as his family’s main provider. As you can imagine, this incident has worsened an already dire financial situation.
The objective of reaching out:
The primary goal is to seek financial assistance, as it has become almost impossible to cover his medical expenses. The secondary goal is to raise awareness of incidents like this, to help prevent others from falling victim to similar crimes.
An overview:
Emergency surgery was performed upon admission to stabilise him, but the bullet was not removed. A second surgery was scheduled for today, but funds are running out. With the bills increasing rapidly, Desmond now faces the prospect of receiving limited care.
I have been visiting him daily, and it is painful to see the helplessness in his eyes and the toll the mounting bills are taking on him. His mental and physical state has declined over the last two days. I can no longer stand by and offer only emotional support—he needs real help. His family needs help.
As a friend, I am humbly seeking the assistance he so desperately needs and deserves.
His wife has set up a GoFundMe account, which has thankfully received some support—but it is nowhere near what is needed. The end goal is R200,000, but only R6,000 has been raised so far.
I’ve enclosed pictures of Desmond before and after the incident, and one of him with his family, in the interest of transparency.
I know you receive many requests like this, but I am pleading with you—please, please, please consider helping. We are running out of time.
Thank you for the platform and for your time.
Anxiously awaiting your response,
Kind and heartfelt regards,
Modesta Diane Phillips
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